ENGLAND
15. Mike Brown: 7.5
Always a willing counter-attacker, he played a key role in the early try for Ben Youngs. His left boot was used more accurately than several of his colleagues’.
14. Anthony Watson: 5.5
For such an open game it was a wonder, and shame, that Watson’s involvements were so few and far between. A surprisingly quiet afternoon.
13. Jonathan Joseph: 8
The sight of him tearing across the Twickenham turf has become one of the abiding memories from this year’s Championship, and although he didn’t score himself this weekend, he still had a hand in two of them with scorching breaks.
12. Luther Burrell: 5
Spilled the ball in the opening exchanges while trying to force an offload, which pretty much sums up his tournament. He does not look comfortable in playing so open a game at this level, and was shown up for lack of pace at one stage by Bernard le Roux.
11. Jack Nowell: 7.5
A quiet first half gave way to a much more involved second forty, in which he showed well-honed predatory instincts to duck and dive his way over the line for two tries. Solid under the high-ball.
10. George Ford: 7
A try, three assists and only one kick at goal missed from 10 attempts should have resulted in a higher rating, but in the second half there were far too many aimless kicks straight down French throats that sapped England of momentum and position.
9. Ben Youngs: 9
A second superlative performance in the space of two weeks, this one even better than the last. Scythed through the French fringe defence – which, it must be said, was hugely accommodating – to score two tries and have a big hand in several others.
1. Joe Marler: 6
Another to have a quieter game than the rest of the championship. Made his tackles and held his own in the scrum, however.
2. Dylan Hartley: 5
Although the line-out did run well while he was on the pitch, he has completely disappeared from games in the loose this championship and that was the case again against France.
3. Dan Cole: 6
A mixed bag for the tighthead, who did not exert the consistent dominance over Debaty that was expected.
4. Geoff Parling: 7
Didn’t necessarily catch the eye too much, but the line-out went well while he was on and there were a couple of important tackles and breakdown interventions that proved his worth.
5. Courtney Lawes: 8
Put in the hardest hit seen for some years on Jules Plisson, a moment which, whether legal or not, summed up the shuddering physicality Lawes adds to England. Monstrously strong in the tackle.
6. James Haskell: 4.5
Moronic trip as the game was nearing its crescendo proves he has not lost his propensity to do stupid things at the worst possible time. Toiled as hard as ever but his influence has waned this championship.
7. Chris Robshaw: 8
Difficult to fault any of his captaincy decisions despite it being very difficult to know what the right calls were at the time. Carried to great effect.
8. Billy Vunipola: 8
Made five more tackles than anyone else to prove once again how improved his work rate over 80 minutes is. Carried powerfully without ever being allowed to break completely free.
Replacements: 4
Why was Ben Youngs taken off when having his best ever performance in an England shirt? If that decision was tactically naive, the physical impact of most of the replacements wasn’t much better – Kieron Brookes gave away the penalty that ended English hopes of the title and Danny Cipriani ran down blind alleys and kicked the ball away fairly aimlessly. Tom Youngs will take a lot of flak for that missed line-out, but his throw wasn’t the issue – the French guessed the call and merely hoisted their jumper in the right place. That comes down to the call, not the throw.
FRANCE
15. Scott Spedding: 7
Takes an awfully long time to build up speed, but when he does he can be unusually effective on the counter-attack, as he was at times at the weekend.
14. Yoann Huget: 5
Touched the ball 13 times but it’s difficult to remember any one of those occasions. Would have hoped to do more in such an open game.
13. Gael Fickou: 6
Showed glimpses of his immense talent but was more often than not found running down blind alleys. Joint top tackler in blue.
12. Maxime Mermoz: 8
The jinking step in the bulid-up to Nakaitaci’s break for Debaty’s try was one of the moments of the game, that no-one other than Castaignede seemed to praise in commentary. It was one example of several in which the centre showed devastating footwork.
11. Noa Nakaitaci: 8
Has such a casual running style it never looks like he is actually sprinting. Almost completed one of the worst butchered tries ever, only to be saved by a generous TMO. Can’t deny how dangerous he was though.
10. Jules Plisson: 5
Is a fine distributor but his kicking, both out of hand and from the tee, was shocking. Had he nailed a couple more simple kicks, the ending wouldn’t have been nearly as dramatic.
9. Seb Tillous-Borde: 6
Raced 60m to score an early try but really it was a gift in which he was up against a prop. After that he was quiet and outplayed by opposite number.
1. Vincent Debaty: 7
Utterly astonishing workrate and pace to keep up with Nakaitaci and take an offload to score his try. Held his own at scrum-time although did concede a couple of penalties.
2. Guilhem Guirado: 7
His sublime offload to clubmate Mermoz sent him over for the first try of the second period. Lineout ran smoothly for the most part.
3. Nicolas Mas: 6
France continue to wring every last drop of game time from the ageing prop. The 34 year-old scrummaged strongly but made very little impact in the loose.
4. Alexandre Flanquart: 7
Stole a crucial line-out late on and was his side’s top tackler, rampaging around and smashing attackers behind the gainline.
5. Yoann Maestri: 5
Couldn’t use his considerable bulk to any great effect, and gave away too man soft penalties. It never felt like he was comfortable with the pace of the game.
6. Thierry Dusautoir: 6.5
Hugely influential in the first half, his impact on the game waned as it went on. A handful on the carry, but three missed tackles from nine attempted is not a fitting stat for one of the game’s great defenders.
7. Bernard le Roux: 5
Four missed tackles is not really good enough for any back row forward, unless you’re attempting upward of 30. Le Roux did not, and apart from outpacing Burrell to a loose ball he was completely anonymous.
8. Loann Goujon: 6.5
Carried and tackled strongly but couldn’t quite get his offloading game firing as he had the week previously against Italy.
Replacements: 6.5
Ben Kayser looked lively after coming on, as did Rory Kockott – although the latter’s goal-kicking was just as flakey as Plisson’s. Uini Atonio added bulk to the rolling maul that yielded a try, but the others had little impact on the game.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
21 replies on “Six Nations 2015: England vs France Player Ratings”
So, that still makes Stephen Jones in the Times the only person to think that Haskell rated 8 (or 9 if the card is ignored). I seriously wonder what Jones adds to Rugby journalism. It certainly isn’t common sense!
Stephen Jones makes Stuart Barnes feel insightful. It’s incredible to me that he is paid to discuss rugby.
You are joking right? Jones didn’t really give Haskell an 8 did he?
He was the most ineffective of England’s fowards and warranted no more than a 5 even before his utterly, utterly stupid trip
He deserved his call-up for his form at Wasps but other than the Wales match he’s not managed to replicate it – and even in that match he should have scored under the posts instead of running directly into them
In fact, add that missed try to his trip and you could argue he lost England the 6 Nations.
Anyway, surely he’s blown his last chance.Tom Wood to come back but I would like to see Ewers bought into the England set-up
BTW – am i alone in not understanding people’s liking for Watson? Although he took his try against Wales well, I think he’s been rather mediocre. His positioning isn’t great and he doesn’t look for work like Nowell.
Sadly I am not joking. He gave Robshaw a 6 and Haskell an 8 (and said it would’ve been 9 if he hadn’t been carded).
As for Watson, we certainly haven’t seen the same kind of form in an England shirt as his early days in a Bath shirt, don’t think it’s helped by the fact that he really caught the eye as a fullback to get himself into the England set up and then has been gradually transitioned into being a wing by club (there is quite a bit of fullback competition at Bath) and country and looks like he hasn’t quite settled in the same way.
he always plays full back for bath, last season abendanon was first choice 15. that is the problem with england playing him at 14
Watson has played on the wing at Bath this season, FB has been in competition with Arscott, Agulla (occasionally) and now they have Homer too.
Watson started the games against Sale, Welsh and Wasps at the beginning of this season on the wing. There have been some games where he has also started at FB too but he doesnt solely play for Bath there.
It’s all part of his painfully unsubtle campaign to get Steffon Armitage in the squad
Agree with most of that. Harsh to judge Hartley on his carrying when England flung the ball wide at any given opportunity – he isn’t exactly one to carry any wider than the 10 channel and rightly so!
The substitution of Youngs was madness; still lost for words on that one. Glad someone agrees with me that Cipriani was poor, also ran down a blind alley to get put into touch on one occasion too.
12 really worries me for England and has for a very long time. My biggest fear is that Burrell and Twelvetrees make so many basic errors that even I’m starting to think Barritt isn’t too bad. That is how bad it’s got! My fingers are firmly crossed that Tuilagi is fit to start next to Joseph come the WC.
Outside of that, England probably have a pretty settled team. Even go as far to say that there are two players in all positions that I wouldn’t mind starting. The exceptions being scrum half and 12.
Not just this game though, Hartley’s carrying has been pretty much non-existent all tournament
Think Cipriani was just trying too hard to make a difference and stand out. Can’t blame him for it given he’d been given pretty much just a couple of minutes to make his mark up to that point
Agreed with everything you say at 12. Slade is the man I would try. In fact even with Tuilagi fit, I’d like Slade to be tried and Tuilagi to perhaps come on from the bench
Do agree about Hartley this 6 nations. In general though, we’ve played a lot wider all 6 nations so he really isn’t going to have much of an impact with ball in hand playing that way. His set piece is so good that I’d still pick him every day of the week for England.
Agree with all of that. I suspect that Slade and/or Burgess will get a game in the warm ups but will be playing for a squad position only. Suspect Barritt or Farrell will be 12 as there is so little time left. I’m not happy about that and thought that there would have been more value in having Slade on the bench rather than 12t. But we are where we are.
No guarantee that Manu will get over this stubborn injury, which is a worry. For me a fit Morgan, Launchbury and Manu transforms this squad. Big ask.
Completely agree that Launchbury and Manu do, but I’m a big fan of Vunipola and he’s been brilliant this 6 nations. Would certainly have one of him or Morgan on the bench if they didn’t start.
I think Slade will be in the squad as the third 10. Ford will start, Farrell is his second choice. A third choice 10 is only needed is strange circumstances, so Slade offers far more versatility than Cips or Myler. Harsh, particularly on Cips, but if it was me that’s who I’d pick.
I am much more of a fan of BV after this 6 Nations – his workrate, defense and fitness has improved immensely and his carrying has become more intelligent.
I do think Morgan is seriously good as well though and having both of them is a brilliant situation to be in
Score for Ford is a little harsh, I grant that he wasn’t at his most effective from a kicking from hand perspective at times in the second half, but in part I think that those came from trying (if not succeeding) to add a semblance of control and stability through territorial play in amongst the chaos.
A couple of the England players themselves alluded to the fact that they had a plan/aspiration to play a tighter more controlled game but weren’t helping themselves by not doing it, so think it is harsh to mark Ford down quite a bit in light of all he did good for being one of the few on the pitch trying to execute the game plan but finding it difficult because no-one else is?
Slade/tuilagi for Burrell. Kvesic or one other for Haskell (any suggestions?)
Wade/May for Watson as nothing is a substitute for pure speed (May’s defence can be improved whereas speed can’t be taught)
Watson in the squad as cover for FB and wing.
Launchbury, Morgan, Woods, Foden and Tuilagi back from injury = RWC winning side!
Tom Wood will be bought in for Haskell but Dave Ewers should be considered. The man is huge and seems to be improving rapidly. Some of his carrying for Exeter is monstrous
Definitely Ewers,just to see if he can do it at this level. If he can he will be a beast of a player.
Itoje might be a worthwhile outside bet but we all know what happens to fast tracked young players who don’t perform well from the word go for England. Probably a year or so too early for him.
Fearns anyone? Big, powerful,good carrier,not prone to rashness. Shame Croft is cursed by fragility. He would be a shoe in.
Burrell? Not done enough in my book.Does’nt make his size really count either in attack or defence.
Twelve is becoming England’s unlucky number. It’s a real conundrum.
Bit harsh on Dan Cole. Thought he got through a mountain of work at the breakdown. Would have him a point higher.
Watched this game again last night and I was struck by a few things:
1. Nigel Owens reffing of the match was truely excellent. A couple of times I disagreed with his calls so I rewound and watched the incident again bearing in mind his comments and found him to be spot on. I think he got one turn over wrong because he was caught on the wrong side and couldn’t see that it was legal so penalised England unfairly.
2. How could you possibly give Ben Youngs anything but a 10 for that performance it was absolutely immaculate made the right decisions all game and terrorized the defence with ball in hand
3. How good was Dan Cole at turning over the ball. Definitely warrants more than a 6
Completely agree, Ben Youngs was immense and Dan Cole has always been brilliant at turning over ball, long may it continue!!!